User Manual for the Seagull Wireless Dashboard Telemetry and Data Recorder Systems Pro, Flight, Glide, Boat Document Version 4.4 Please read this manual before using your new system. Thank you for your purchase! This instruction manual will guide you through the installation and operation of your Pro, Glide, Flight, or Boat Seagull Wireless Dashboard Telemetry or Data Recorder System (the System).
Page 2 Glide System Packing List • Wireless Telemetry Dashboard Receiver and transmitter • Glide Data Recorder • Battery Harness • USB cable, • plastic clip for mounting dashboard to radio antenna, • Windows CD, • Optional: Rubber Antenna with SMA connector for SMA Dashboard option Please see our website support page for updates to this manual if changes were made after printing. Also, check our support page for updates to the Windows software.
Page 3 • It is very important that you “Antenna Down” range check your vehicle per your radio manufacturer’s instructions after installing or reconfiguring any electronic equipment, and generally before each operation. In the unlikely event that you have range issues, see the Troubleshooting section. • The System is to be used only as described in the “Intended Uses” section below. Other uses are not supported, and uses where loss of life or injury may result are expressly forbidden.
Page 4 Basic Installation and Setup Instructions This section describes the minimal setup and configuration required to use your system. section. No computer is required for this Install your Data Acquisition Module (Recorder) NOTE: The recorder’s label has a handy color coded means of indicating the polarity of the various connectors. The red dots on the label, which are on only one side of the text corresponding to each input, indicate on which side of the plug the red wire should go.
Page 5 Follow these guidelines when mounting the pitot tube: Flight Pitot Tube Installations 1. The pickup end of the pitot tube (the silver colored tip) should be pointing toward the direction of the model’s travel. While best results will be obtained if the pitot tube is perfectly aligned with the direction of travel in both axes, the “Prandtl” design of the tube will compensate somewhat for higher angles of attack. 2.
Page 6 If your system came with a temperature sensor, the dashboard is configured to display one temperature. If you purchased additional Temperature Sensors, you will be able to monitor up to 6 temperatures with your system (two using our loop type sensors, and up to four using our Exhaust Gas Temperature or Cylinder Head Temperature expanders). Plug the Futaba style connector from the sensor into the recorder as shown in Figure 1.
Page 7 We are often asked whether existing magnets on spark ignition engines can be used. The answer is “yes” in most cases, if you can install the sensor near enough to rotating magnets. We have found that these engines typically have 3 magnets, with 2 magnets mounted with one polarity, and the other one with another polarity.
Page 8 The secondary RPM channels are automatically set up with the same gear ratio as the primary RPM. The secondary RPM sensor(s) are logged and displayed on the screens with the other parameters, as described below. NOTE: When using secondary RPM sensors in any of the servo ports, servo port monitoring will not work correctly. It is a good idea to select “Do not calibrate servos” in the New Model Wizard if you plan on using multiple RPMs.
Page 9 NOTE: Customers without the Seagull System should now proceed to the section entitled “Advanced Installation and Setup Instructions” Choose a location in your vehicle to install the transmitter. The transmitter is normally mounted with Velcro or double sided tape. Ideally, the transmitter will be installed with its antenna and body as far away from your radio receiver (RX) as possible, with the antenna protruding at right angles with your RX antenna, to reduce the possibility of interference.
Page 10 USB Connection: The USB cable supplied with your Recorder connects to the Dashboard at this port. Note that the RED wire of the USB cable goes up, as shown by the red dot above “USB” on the Dashboard label. NOTE: If you have a 9V battery in the Dashboard, the Dashboard must be powered on before connecting to USB. LCD Display: The 16 x 2 LCD character display is easily programmed to display up to four vehicle parameters per screen page.
Page 11 • • • rate greater than this sinkrate, the variometer will start to sound, as described in the “Variometer” section above. Pressing up/down arrows changes this parameter. “Vario Climbrate” – this setting controls the minimum climbrate. When you ascend at a rate greater than this climbrate, the variometer will start to sound, as described in the “Variometer” section above. Pressing up/down arrows changes this parameter.
Page 12 Advanced Installation and Setup Instructions This section describes more advanced setup and configuration. A computer is required for this section, and some features listed require optional accessories. Connecting the Recorder to Your Models Servos and Receiver With the four included (optional with Glide Systems) Servo ‘Y’ cables, you will be able to monitor your model’s servo movements (up to four channels, or two channels with the Boat System).
Page 13 The supplied Windows application is compatible with USB equipped PCs running Windows 98SE, Millennium, Win 2K, and Win XP. The application is not compatible with Windows 98 Original Edition (Gold), or NT 4, even if the PC has USB support. NOTE: the application included on CD with the unit was current at the time of manufacture. Please check our Support page on http://eagletreesystems.com to see if there is a newer version of the software which may have addressed issues you could encounter.
Page 14 Servo movements: If one or more of these parameters is checked, the recorder will log the positions of the corresponding servos, assuming you have the optional ‘Y’ cables installed. Choose these options if you want to see controller movements during your flight, etc. . Servo Glitches (requires Y cable installation): If this option is selected, the recorder detects and logs three different types of servo glitches: short servo pulses (less than 740uSec), long servo pulses (greater than 2.
Page 15 Altitude: If this option is selected, the recorder logs the model’s altitude with each sample. RPM: If this option is selected, the recorder logs the RPM of your session. Temperature 1: Choose this option if you want to record temperature from the temperature sensor plugged into the “Tmp1” slot, sold separately. Temperature 2: Choose this option if you want to record temperature from the temperature sensor plugged into the “Tmp2” slot, sold separately.
Page 16 Setting the “Choose What to Display” Feature The software can display several data parameters in both numeric and instrument format. The software displays these parameters both for data downloaded from the recorder, and in “Live Mode” from the Seagull Dashboard. Select the parameters you wish the Application to display on the PC screen by clicking “Software, Choose Instruments to Display on the PC Screen.
Page 17 If you have a magnetic RPM sensor, enter the number of times your motor turns with each rotation of the magnets as described in this dialog box. If you have an optical or brushless RPM sensor, please see the instructions included with that sensor. Note: You can change this setting later from the “Calibrate” software menu. Setting Metric or English Units Metric or English units are selected via the Windows Recorder Application (the App). The default setting is English units.
Page 18 Dashboard Data Setup Utility. See the below section on running this utility. Once the utility is successfully run, the Finish button of the Wizard will ungray. Seagull Dashboard Data Setup Utility Instructions This utility (the Utility) will appear the first time you run the software, and can be re-run by selecting “Hardware, Choose Parameters to Display on the Wireless Dashboard LCD” in the Software.
Page 19 If there is a parameter that you would like to display on ALL your pages, click on the parameter on the simulated display, and click the “Display on all pages” button. The window labeled “Enter the label to display..” in this section displays the 3 digit label that will be displayed beside this parameter on the LCD. You can change this 3 digit label to be whatever you want. For example, if Temperature Sensor 1 was attached to your Cylinder Head, you might label this parameter “CHT.
Page 20 Once the parameters are configured to your satisfaction, click OK, which will download the settings to the Dashboard. Note that you can change the parameters at any time by following the above steps. Note: If you wish to clear all previously configured parameters, hit the Clear button on the bottom of the utility. Configuring Variometer Alarms (Pro and Glide Systems only) The Variometer parameter (“Var”) must be displayed on the Dashboard for the variometer tones to work correctly.
Page 21 If you calibrated, the data values displayed for your servos should be as follows: Rudder, Ailerons, Elevator: -100 to 100; Throttle: 0 to 100 (with negative values for idle trim down) Using your Seagull in Laptop Live Mode If you have a laptop at your site, or wish to see live data with your vehicle on the bench, the software can be used to view the Seagull data parameters live in a “big screen” format, with almost infinite recording capability! To use Live Mode, first select “Software, Choose In
Page 22 Once the Recorder is powered up in your model, it will either flash one or two times every second or so. This flash rate is longer or shorter depending on the capture rate. This flashing indicates the following: One Flash - The recorder is actively recording. This is the normal power-up state. Two Flashes – The recorder is paused.
Page 23 • • • • Graphical and/or Numeric RPM – The application displays RPM readings in either instrument or numeric format. Graphical Joysticks – Joystick positions are indicated via graphical joysticks. Graphical and/or Numeric Speed – The model’s speed, as computed from the air pitot tube can be displayed graphically and numerically. Graphical and/or Numeric Altitude – The model’s altitude is displayed when these options are selected.
Page 24 Note if “IsEvent is 1”, the record contains event data as well as regular data. Typical events are EVENT_RESTART and EVENT_TX_INIT. Others may occur depending on the sensors installed. Event Codes in the “EventCode” field are as follows.
Page 25 Solution: Make sure you have chosen a Recorder sampling rate that is Seagull compatible. This is set in the software by choosing “Hardware, Set Recorder Capture Rate” with the Recorder connected. 10 Samples/Second is recommended. Issue: My Dashboard is receiving data, but it doesn’t look like correct data. Solution: Click “Reset Parameters” in the Seagull Dashboard Data Setup utility, and reconfigure your parameters.
Page 26 • • Make sure that the RPM sensor is plugged into the correct slot on the recorder (should be the bottom slot next to the temp sensors). Connect the recorder to the computer and launch the software. Then, click the “Live Mode” button in the “Recorder Data Operations” section of the software main screen. Make sure that the RPM gauge is displayed, and spin the magnets, or wave the magnets by hand in front of the sensor. Try both sides of the magnets and both sides of the sensor.
Page 27 Solution: The Variometer parameter (“Var”) must be displayed on the Dashboard for the variometer tones to work correctly. Please make sure you add that parameter when you configure the Dashboard. Solution: Make sure that the Dashboard’s speaker is not muted. FCC Information Seagull Receiver FCC Information (For 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz Systems) Eagle Tree Systems ETS-SEA (900 MHz, 200mW System) Contains FCC ID: OUR-9XTEND (900 MHz, 1 Watt System) Contains FCC ID: OUR-XBEEPRO (2.
Page 28 Specifications Recorder Airspeed: around 2 MPH minimum (Pro and Glide) or 9 MPH minimum (Flight and Boat), approximately 290 MPH maximum Altitude (not Boat): 0 to approximately 32000 feet, in approximately 1 foot increments (Pro and Glide) or 8 foot increments (Flight) Operational Voltage: 4.35V to 7.0V (1 Watt Transmitter requires 5V to 5.75V, 2.4GHz transmitter requires 4.35 to 6.1V) Weight: Recorder and Pitot tube, approximately 1 oz.
Page 29 Dimensions: Weight: Temperature Range: TX Antenna: Power: Current Draw: 1” x 1.5” x 0.350” (25 mm x 37 mm x 9 mm) approx 0.3oz (8 g) (Transmitter only) 0 – 140 degrees F short wire Power taken from Recorder/Receiver battery Transmitter + Recorder, average 100 milliamp EU/CE 433MHz, 10mW Transmitter Operational Voltage: Frequency Range: Operating Range (Line of Sight): Manufacturer: Maximum Output Power: Dimensions: Weight: Temperature Range: TX Antenna: Power: Current Draw: 4.35V to 7.
Page 30 ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. WE DO NOT ACCEPT LIABILITY BEYOND THE REMEDIES PROVIDED FOR IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY OR FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LIABILTY FOR THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS AGAINST YOU FOR DAMAGES, FOR PRODUCTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR USE, OR FOR LOST DATA OR LOST SOFTWARE. OUR LIABILITY WILL BE NO MORE THAN THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE PRODUCT THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF A CLAIM.
